How to celebrate Valentine’s Day on a fast-food budget

(Relaxnews) – Valentine’s Day isn’t just a greeting card or chocolate holiday. It’s also an occasion for the fast food industry to capitalize on the very edible holiday by turning their foods into the shape of a heart or offering their restaurants as wedding hall venues for couples on a low — very low — budget.

Among the perennial Valentine’s Day participants is Dunkin’ Donuts, which releases a heart-shaped donut every year. This year’s releases include Cookie Dough, with a cookie dough-flavored buttercream filling, and the Brownie Batter donut topped with heart sprinkles.

The pizza industry is another Valentine’s Day enthusiast.

Now in its 22nd year, Boston Pizza will also offer heart-shaped pizzas on Valentine’s Day. In Canada alone, the chain expects to sell 65,000 pizzas.

Meanwhile, restaurants and chains are also offering themselves up as wedding venues for couples on a shoestring-fry budget.

Over at White Castle, home of the mini burger slider that inspired the Hollywood movie “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” and boasts a cult-like following, 10 couples will exchange vows at restaurants across the US on Friday. The couples were selected from radio contests.

At the New York City landmark Serendipity 3, which has also made a Hollywood appearance in the movie “Serendipity,” a couple who fell in love at the restaurant 15 years ago will likewise renew their vows on Friday over a bowl of their signature Frrrozen Hot Chocolate dessert.

And for those in Southport, North Carolina with no Valentine’s Day plans — and no money — a McDonald’s restaurant is hosting a candle-lit dinner for two, with table service and musical selections by the Ronald himself.